bcatwilly
09-30-2007, 10:37 AM
Guys, now that we have had a chance to get through the nonconference portion of the schedule, let's look at where we are at since last season's International Bowl.
1. While it wasn't pretty at all, Coach Kelly and his staff managed to prepare a team in a matter of days to win the International Bowl after losing their head coach. That is at least mildly impressive in and of itself.
2. Coach Kelly is basically using none of his personnel on the offensive side of the ball, rather guys both on the offensive line and elsewhere who have been "reshaped" since only January.
3. The Bearcats have outscored their first 5 opponents 232-53, and this is impressive no matter who you are playing :eek:
4. Kelly's "Coast to Coast" offense as he calls it because he has taken plays from coaches coast to coast - This is the most points scored in the first 5 games in Bearcat history I believe (remembering these are not Kelly's guys yet). Yes the San Diego State defense sucks, but their head coach said during the week that he and his staff couldn't believe how much offense we were actually running in terms of the playbook. And they were also impressed with the fact we had been platooning a couple of QBs in the midst of running so much also.
5. Team Preparation/Focus - Kelly managed to publicly bring up whether we should play @ Miami any longer during the rivalry week. Yet he and the team were focused enough to crush them on their field. Even I was a little nervous about the impact that going West might have on the team, once again Coach Kelly's plan to dart in and dart out worked perfectly and the team was scarily focused on offense especially.
6. Good ole Bearcat Toughness - It seems that the football team has been taking on the same kind of toughness that the basketball team had for so many years. While the teams that we have played are not that good, if you look at Rivals recruiting rankings there isn't really a team except for D1-AA Southeast Missouri State that didn't have as many or more recruits than the Bearcats in the last several years rated at 3 stars or higher. In fact that crappy San Diego State team from last night had far more recruits rated high than the Bearcats, including several 4 star guys. So clearly having that Bearcat toughness and TEAM identity is a huge part of the equation, not just talent.
7. Demetrius Jones, Notre Dame QB to UC - Coach Kelly called it a new day for Bearcat football, and he may be right. Bearcat toughness and team concept have taken the Bearcats to this level, but can you imagine what it would be like seeing Kelly run his offense with elite level athletes like Demetrius Jones at most of the skill positions? Mr. Isaiah Pead, please come be part of the show!
Sit back and enjoy the ride folks, no annoying talk about how long Coach Kelly may be here, blah blah blah, this is good stuff. And oh by the way, the Bearcats are ranked in the Top 25, Penn State, Alabama and Notre Dame are not :D
1. While it wasn't pretty at all, Coach Kelly and his staff managed to prepare a team in a matter of days to win the International Bowl after losing their head coach. That is at least mildly impressive in and of itself.
2. Coach Kelly is basically using none of his personnel on the offensive side of the ball, rather guys both on the offensive line and elsewhere who have been "reshaped" since only January.
3. The Bearcats have outscored their first 5 opponents 232-53, and this is impressive no matter who you are playing :eek:
4. Kelly's "Coast to Coast" offense as he calls it because he has taken plays from coaches coast to coast - This is the most points scored in the first 5 games in Bearcat history I believe (remembering these are not Kelly's guys yet). Yes the San Diego State defense sucks, but their head coach said during the week that he and his staff couldn't believe how much offense we were actually running in terms of the playbook. And they were also impressed with the fact we had been platooning a couple of QBs in the midst of running so much also.
5. Team Preparation/Focus - Kelly managed to publicly bring up whether we should play @ Miami any longer during the rivalry week. Yet he and the team were focused enough to crush them on their field. Even I was a little nervous about the impact that going West might have on the team, once again Coach Kelly's plan to dart in and dart out worked perfectly and the team was scarily focused on offense especially.
6. Good ole Bearcat Toughness - It seems that the football team has been taking on the same kind of toughness that the basketball team had for so many years. While the teams that we have played are not that good, if you look at Rivals recruiting rankings there isn't really a team except for D1-AA Southeast Missouri State that didn't have as many or more recruits than the Bearcats in the last several years rated at 3 stars or higher. In fact that crappy San Diego State team from last night had far more recruits rated high than the Bearcats, including several 4 star guys. So clearly having that Bearcat toughness and TEAM identity is a huge part of the equation, not just talent.
7. Demetrius Jones, Notre Dame QB to UC - Coach Kelly called it a new day for Bearcat football, and he may be right. Bearcat toughness and team concept have taken the Bearcats to this level, but can you imagine what it would be like seeing Kelly run his offense with elite level athletes like Demetrius Jones at most of the skill positions? Mr. Isaiah Pead, please come be part of the show!
Sit back and enjoy the ride folks, no annoying talk about how long Coach Kelly may be here, blah blah blah, this is good stuff. And oh by the way, the Bearcats are ranked in the Top 25, Penn State, Alabama and Notre Dame are not :D